Hand hygiene program decreases school absenteeism due to upper respiratory infections
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: We assessed the effectiveness of a handwashing program using hand sanitizer to prevent school absenteeism due to upper respiratory infections (URIs). METHODS: This was a randomized, controlled, and open study on a sample of 1341 children 4‐12 years old, attending 5 state schools in Almería (Spain), with an 8‐month follow‐up. The experimental group (EG) washed their hands with soap and water, together with using hand sanitizer, and the control group followed their usual handwashing procedures. Absenteeism rates due to URIs were compared between the 2 groups through a multivariate Poisson regression analysis. The percent of days missed in both groups were compared with a z test. RESULTS: Overall, 1271 cases of school absenteeism due to URIs were registered. Schoolchildren from the EG had a 38% lower risk of absenteeism due to URIs, incidence rate ratio: 0.62, 95% confidence interval: 0.55‐0.70, and a decrease in absenteeism of 0.45 episodes/child/academic year, p < .001. Pupils missed 2734 school days due to URIs and the percentage of days absent was significantly lower in the EG, p < .001. CONCLUSIONS: Use of hand sanitizer plus handwashing with soap accompanied by educational support is an effective measure to reduce absenteeism due to URIs
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Three trials demonstrated a 36% relative reduction in numbers of participants with absence in the hand hygiene group (RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.71).
“Three trials measured absenteeism from school or work and demonstrated a 36% relative reduction in the numbers of participants with absence in the hand hygiene group (RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.71; Analysis 3.5)”
From Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses (2023) · cites this paper as Azor‐Martinez 2016
The Results report less URI-related school absenteeism in the hand-hygiene group, with an adjusted incidence rate ratio of 0.62 (95% CI 0.55–0.70). The paper reports one trial of schoolchildren and measures absenteeism episodes, not a pooled result from three trials, absence from work, or the number of participants with any absence. It does not report the claimed RR of 0.64 (95% CI 0.58–0.71). (LLM, conf=0.88)
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Azor-Martinez, E., Yui-Hifume, R., Muñoz-Vico, F. J., Jimenez-Noguera, E., Strizzi, J. M., Martinez-Martinez, I., Garcia-Fernandez, L., Seijas-Vazquez, M. L., Torres-Alegre, P., Fernández-Campos, M. A., et al. (2018) · Pediatrics · doi:10.1542/peds.2018-1245 · Cited by 51 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Azor‐Martinez, E., Cobos‐Carrascosa, E., Seijas‐Vazquez, M. L., Fernández‐Sánchez, C., Strizzi, J. M., Torres‐Alegre, P., Santisteban‐Martínez, J., & Gimenez‐Sanchez, F.
- Affiliations
- Distrito Sanitario, Atención Primaria Almería, España, C) Haza de Acosta S/N 04009, Almería, Spain
- Complejo Hospitalario Torrecárdenas (ES)
- Roger Williams University (US)
- University of Almería (ES)
- Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Torrecárdenas, Almería, España, C) Pepe Isbert 55, 04007, Almería. Spain
- ORCID
- Strizzi, Jenna M.
- Venue
- Journal of School Health
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2016-11-08
- Volume
- 86
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 873-881
- ISSN
- 0022-4391 (ISSN-L)
- 1746-1561
- OpenAlex
- W2551395663
- Cited by
- 27
- References
- 48
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3
- FWCI
- 2.87
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of School Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HELIN Digital Commons (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Department of Health of Andalusia
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Emergency Medical Services › Pediatric health and respiratory diseases
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Speech and Hearing › School Health and Nursing Education
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Infection Control in Healthcare
- Keywords
- hand hygiene, hand sanitizer, hand washing, upper respiratory tract infection, school absenteeism, elementary school students, infection control, health education, school health programs
- MeSH terms
- Absenteeism, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Hand Disinfection, Health Education, Humans, Male, Respiratory Tract Infections, Schools, Socioeconomic Factors, Spain, Hand Hygiene
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